This is the free capacity-building section for DPOs to access a range of information about our work, and some guides on key areas that we work on, such as disability hate crime.
We have also developed a larger capacity building toolkit in our exclusive members area. This toolkit includes a range of guides covering issues relevant to the work of DPOs. To access this capacity building toolkit, all you need to do is email membership@ukdpc.net and request to become an organisational member.
As a UKDPC member, you will also have direct access to a range of news, information and capacity-building support relevant to your organisation. As we are the national umbrella body for DPOs, you will also be able to benefit from sharing good practice with our network of DPOs across the UK. If you would like to find out more information, then please get in touch.
In our Activate newsletters, we talk about what work we have been up to recently and current topical issues. We also profile stories from disabled people's organisations (DPOs) across the UK. These stories allow DPOs to find out what other organisations are up to and to share good practice.
We produce Activate on a quarterly basis. If you would like to contact us and share your stories, then we would be happy to hear from you. Please email info@ukdpc.net or visit our Contact Us page for alternative ways of getting in touch with us. 
Activate Issue 7 (Spring 2011) in PDF Activate Issue 6 (Winter 2010 to 2011) in PDF
There are also word and text only versions of Activate which are available in our Library or by clicking on Activate newsletter alternative formats.
Hate crime against disabled people is one of the most important issues we need to tackle right now. At UKDPC we want to provide more information on the ways in which disabled people, at the grassroots level, can become involved in reporting these crimes.
As part of our capacity building toolkit, we have produced a helpful guide on ways in which disabled people and DPOs can become involved in reporting disability hate crime. Please take a few minutes to read our guide on how you can get involved in tackling hate crime against disabled people. Disability Hate Crime, How to Get Involved Guide
We have a guide of useful information, resources and links currently available (March 2010). We have found this information as a result of our work, but in no way present this as an exhaustive list. There is specific information and reports about governance, employment, volunteering, IT, and other issues.
To view this guide, click on the link below and feel free to use it, to pass it to your colleagues, to other organisations, or through your networks. 
Capacity Building Resources Guide
Establishing UKDPC wasn't just about making sure we had our own national voice, although that in itself would have been a good enough reason. Disabled people were also very unhappy about constantly being described as having 'problems'. Disabled people called this view of them the 'Medical Model of Disability'. In simple terms this says if you can't see or hear or you have difficulty in walking then this is your disability and your problem.
While we agree that some people have impairments it is not these impairments which 'disable' us. What disables us are the barriers and attitudes which separate us from the rest of society. The fact that you can't walk is not the problem. The problem is inaccessible schools, colleges, transport, housing and discrimination in employment. Disabled people call this the Social Model of Disability.
The Social Model says that 'disability' is not an individual problem. We cannot compete on equal terms because there are too many barriers. We need to recognise that 'society', through government and its agencies, has a duty to remove these barriers. Disabled people have the same right to full equality as do all other citizens.
To read and download a summary of what the Social Model means, please click on the link below. This document on the Social Model was written by Grant Carson of the Glasgow Centre for Inclusive Living for the Scottish Accessible Information Forum. Social Model of Disability
To visit the Scottish Accessible Information Forum, then please visit http://http://www.saifscotland.org.uk/ or click here.
We are pleased to announce the launch of an exciting new manifesto for the coming year. The UKDPC Manifesto for 2010 sets out our work programme on key issues that have a decisive impact on justice and rights for disabled people.
We encourage disabled people and their organisations to use the Manifesto at the local level when campaigning. To read the Manifesto, please click on any of links below. UKDPC Manifesto 2010 UKDPC Manifesto Easy Read Version
We have made available a series of images for disabled people’s organisations to use. These images are based around the work we do and the events we’ve held around the UK. Some of them are also historical and reflect the campaigns we were involved in, in the 1990s.
Please click on UKDPC Images or on the link below to view and use these images. They are free of charge but please do state ‘reproduced with permission of UKDPC’ alongside the images.
Business Link: Provides practical business advice.
Disability Law Service: Provides advice for deaf and disabled people living in England and Wales, by telephone or email, on the following areas of law:
Please note that Disability Law Service cannot advise on family or criminal law, housing, education or debt issues.
Disability LIB Capacity Building Assessment Tool.
Disability LIB Capacity Building Further Resources.
Improving Support: Resources for emerging and established disability organisations.
My Society provides information on:
National Centre for Independent Living (NCIL): Provides resources for ULOs.
National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) Future Focus Series.
NFP Synergy: Ten campaigning tips for lobbying MPs PDF document.
Pilotlight: Provides coaching for charities and social enterprises. UKDPC HR Management in DPOs Workshop Notes (Bristol, 20 April 2011) UKDPC HR Management in DPOs Workshop, Notes from SWOT exercise (Bristol, 20 April 2011)
UKDPC HR Management in DPOs Workshop Presentation (Bristol, 20 April 2011)
You can also access other useful information and documents by visiting our Library.
